The Strategy will help the U.S. meet its National Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal, to halve food loss and waste by 2030 and contribute to achieving the National Recycling Goal to achieve a 50% recycling rate by 2030, as well as contribute to the...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, experts highlight the innovative ways in which PACE programs are evolving to support the agriculture industry across the country.

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, panelists discuss how revolving loan funds can be used to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and microenterprises to strengthen local and regional food systems. The...

A groundbreaking report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Equity Commission features more than 60 recommendations designed to make policies affecting farming and rural America more fair. A few key recommendations include...

The Rhode Island Food Policy Council has released a first-of-its-kind resource providing a data-driven assessment of the status of Rhode Island's food system, incorporating the best available research and data, and presenting information on the...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, speakers explore the potential for leveraging this foundational financing tool to cultivate resilient and thriving local and regional food systems.

Local and Regional Foods are a small but vitally important part of agriculture sales in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local and Regional Food Systems Resource Guide is intended to help stakeholders navigate USDA...

This report, developed by the Croatan Institute in collaboration with the Meridian Institute, explores major on-farm, off-farm, and systemic risks that the agricultural industry faces and how finance can increase the resilience of those systems...

The SLM White Paper, Investing in Regenerative Agriculture: Reflections from the Past Decade, sets out the investment and environmental case for regenerative agriculture, while also highlighting the risks and challenges. It is an update to an...

The CDFA-NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Toolkit is a set of best practice resources designed to provide practical assistance to communities looking to invest in socially disadvantaged farmers and...

Croatan Institute and Self-Help announce the release of a major new collaborative report that explores leading challenges faced by the Farm Credit System – the largest lender in the agricultural sector. This new report documents leading...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we illustrate the Reframe, Build, Plan framework of critical success factors that are needed to expand financing and drive capital into local food systems. Speakers discuss how...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how programs at the state and federal levels can offer unique financing solutions and catalyze investment in local and regional food systems.

This report, published by The Wallace Center, outlines the initial impact of the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). Through partnerships with state agencies, and territory and tribal governments, this innovative new program is...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we highlight unique financing structures that drive food systems investment within a geographic footprint.

CDFA's Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act was introduced as H.R. 3787 in the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support by Rep. LaHood (R-IL), Kildee (D-MI), Feenstra (R-IA), and Evans (D-PA).

Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses includes sources of local, regional, and national finance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. Initially informed by a list of funding...

Financing from the federal New Markets Tax Credit Program enabled the Red Lake Nation to expand and upgrade its main grocery and retail hub, the Red Lake Trading Post, in northern Minnesota. In addition to the deli and cafe sections pictured here,...

Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) from Africa, Asia, and the Americas met with potential donors and allies in Washington D.C. to discuss advantages and opportunities to invest in and strengthen the capacities of indigenous, community,...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how these tools can be used in strengthening local and regional food systems and address some of the challenges that come with financing this sector.

With support from a third round of funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), CDFA is continuing to advocate for Defining the Food System Asset Class by building on previous efforts to increase opportunities and leverage existing capital to...

A new project will directly pay farmers for the ecosystem services they provide, such as cleaner water, healthier soils and increased biodiversity. The financing will support farmers who engage in regenerative agriculture practices

This technical brief is intended to serve as a practical guide for including agricultural finance in development programs; specifically, within the agricultural sub-sector of innovative climate-smart businesses, production and business models, and...

Potlikker Capital is a farm community governed charitable integrated capital fund created to holistically serve BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) farmers in America who operate at the intersection of racial and climate justice.

State of Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets.

Successfully accessing appropriate capital to grow or sustain your farm business takes focus and dedication. Below, you will find resources on farm financing solutions that will help you develop the skills and understand the steps needed to analyze,...

Expanding access to agricultural finance provides agricultural producers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the capital needed to increase productivity, output, and, ultimately, income.

The goal of this Guide is to identify specific challenges in value chains that can be addressed by improved payments or financial services, and then to identify corresponding DFS solutions to these specific challenges, with the aim of improving the...

Agriculture is the main source of income and employment for the 70 percent of the world's poor, who live in rural areas. Yet, only 10 percent of gross domestic produce (GDP) in low and middle income countries is generated by the agricultural sector....

Here are some of the big players in the agri-finance universe. The types of players include banks that specialize in agricultural loans, nonbank finance companies that do land and equipment loans, farmer-owned lending co-ops, REITs that own and...

Coverage of a number of new developments in the world of agricultural commodities.

This guide is aimed at helping farmers get ready to ask a lender for the financing needed in new and innovative ventures. When used as part of an overall enterprise development strategy, it can help farmers and lenders achieve mutually beneficial...

Compensation provisions in production contracts vary widely. They are often complex and difficult to understand. Contracts may have grade and quality premiums that are calculated based on the production of other growers under contract with the...

Farmers growing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables face unique challenges in receiving prompt and fair payment. These materials discuss practical and legal steps that farmers can take to protect their right to be paid when they sell fresh...

This Organic Resource Guide provides an overview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services available to the public that either directly or indirectly support organic agriculture. Some programs have the specific...

This guide will introduce you to the new Microloan program offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 1 Under this new program, FSA will make loans of up to $35,000 to farmers for farm operating...

Farmers’ markets are booming in popularity around the country. They are popular with consumers seeking fresh, local food. They are popular with farmers moving toward direct marketing of their products. And they are popular with beginning farmers and...

This guide was written for people who need assistance starting, expanding, or owning a farm or ranch. This guide will help you identify concerns and questions you may have before you start the loan process.

The overview provides a quick guide to federal farm and food-related programs and grants, organized by issue and by who is eligible to apply or sign up.

In the seed market, promoting fair and vibrant competition involves considerations of intellectual property (IP) law, antitrust and other fair business practices law, and public investment in our food system. These are complex and often confusing...

CDFA and Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) are excited to announce the achievement of a strategic food systems financing plan for the southeastern Nebraska region’s food system! This is the first strategic financing plan created for...

Challenged by the historically discriminatory lending practices that inform the lack of diversity and equity in our current agricultural landscape, the mission of Black Farmer Fund is to nurture Black community wealth & health by investing capital...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we take a deeper look at a method of financing that has been building infrastructure, industry, and agriculture for over a century and explore its applications within the food...

A new report from Croatan Institute highlights how the Soil Wealth Area model can facilitate more investment in regenerative agriculture, enhance conservation, and support resilient rural economies. The report provides specific recommendations for...

CDFA and King County, Washington are excited to announce the completion of a strategic food systems financing plan! CDFA worked with King County to establish a set of recommendations that position the county to be the leader in supporting the...

To help local policymakers, leaders, advocates, researchers, and others understand policy options for communities seeking to increase access to healthy food, the Healthy Food Policy Project (HFPP) developed a framework to show how local...

Linking development finance and food systems can be a daunting undertaking for any community. Research on the current ecosystem of food systems finance has positioned CDFA to identify key strategies for the path ahead in this work. The Food Systems...

During this installment of the CDFA Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, we explore how innovative partnerships are leveraging creative financing approaches to reduce food-related waste along the supply chain.

Regenerative farms rely on small-to-mid scale, aligned infrastructure to process, transport, and market their products. These middle infrastructure businesses help to improve farm income and bolster regional food economies while providing...

The Franklin Templeton Institute, a global investment management organization, released its latest insights paper, “Food innovation: Investing to feed our future,” focusing on the innovation and investments needed to feed a growing global population...